Dental device



Sept. 19, 1944. w. J. KlFF 2,358,645

DENTAL DEVICE Filed Oct. 2. 1941 INVENTOR NEY5 Patented Sept. 19, 1944 1 NIT-go 1 Buffalo,

1 A plica ion Qflwb r 2, 194 se ial 94215 59? (mid-.13?)

. 1 C a ms This invention: relates. to dental devices and more particularly to improved methods and means for packaging-and displaying and using liquid'.dentifrices and means-:forapplying the same to the useintended thereof. I V :Oneof the objectspf theinventionxis to provide an improved combination container-dispenser device for'liquid dentifrices. Another ob:- ject of the invention is to provide an improved form of selfecontained reservoir type toothbrush. Another object of the invention is .to provide .an improved .combinationidentifrice container and dispensing toothbrush .and :coverpdevice therefor, whereby the combination unit .is adapted to be displayed and otherwise handled in an improved manner in connection withthe merchandising and actual use-thereof. Other objeects and .advantages of .theinvention will appear from the specification hereinafter.

1: In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a liquid dentifrice container eleme'ntlof the combination of the invention;

Fig. 2 is an elevation of a toothbrush dentifricedispenser device of the invention;

Fig. 3 is an elevation, with portions broken away and shown in section, of elements of Figs. 1 and 2 when arranged in assembled relation; and

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 of another form of dentifrice container-dispenser device of the invention having mounted thereon a protective cover member which is shown in section.

. The invention is illustrated in the drawing in connection with a container for a liquid dentifrice which is designated at ID as comprising a flat bottomed small neck bottle formed of glass or any other suitable material. The neck portion of the bottle I0 is exteriorly threaded at I2 so as to be adapted to engage an interiorly threaded cap I I in liquid sealing relation, as illustrated in Fig. I. The dentifrice dispenser device is illustrated in Figs.,2 and 3 as comprising a toothbrush-like member having a reduced shaft portion I6; an enlarged head portion I8' of the member are interiorly bored as indicated 7 at 22 so as to be adapted to convey liquid dentifrice from the container I0 'into the head I8 for discharge at the base of the bristle members I9.

7 as to n ly resent tree 1 Q i 1,... ti. dent frice .thcrcthr ughlunder-th 39c sir-gra itY alone. That is, the bore 2.2 s errata .v small cross-sectional area-so that ta 1.5:ap ayr type conduit :is thus provided thton w the dentifri e may he forcedt afioww s th do. .e is shaken. the arran ement nroyides 11 9f ntigfrice onl when desired As Mun ther. dentitrieeilow control feature the enlar ed end p rtion ill o the dispenser m mb r d nned :withran airrinlet .cpnduitildlflg, 3 w; on :is adapted to convey a .f p I int the interior of the .rsoo. However, theicond 4 at itsinnerend of the container I'D whenthe con ai rand d s-L penser lement are .rclatiirel adiu .ed 'nto ri id screwed con ect on hanhenit dispenser 51S tight yscrewed ;upo.....the con ainer ilflihe pone unit 24 wi be .c ose.d,;but when thed spenser The bore 22, .is-so' dinensienedsne e disda ned-it neck enfi iii tall unscrewed sl ehtlyre a ive to container neckthe conduit :2! .rwl'llzthcr by be automatica y opened so that air may be freely drawn into the interior I of the device to equalize atmospheric pressures exteriorly and interiorly thereof so that there will be no interference to flow of dentifrice through the bore 22, for the purpose intended.

Thus, it will be understood that a particularly convenient form of automatic valve is'thus provided in conjunction with the dispenser-container combination unit, whereby without use of complicated moving parts and the like a conveniently manipulable valving arrangement is provided. It will also be appreciated that due to the fiat bottom; wall form of the container I0 and the arrangement for rigid connection of the dispenser member upon the container member when adjusted to air conduit-closed position, the combination unit is adapted to be placed in upright position while resting upon the fiat bottom of the container II] in suchmanner that the head and bristle portions of the dispenser are thereby supported away from possible contaminating contact with other objects. Consequently the device is particularly suited to be set in upright position upon a medicine cabinet shelf or the of the dispenser, but the conduit 36 is preferably disposed to emerge adjacent the back face portion of the brush shaft l6. Hence, when thedispenser is loosened relative to the container to open the conduit 36 and shaken so as to force dentifrice outwardly into the bristles IS, the open semis the neck opening of the container l0 prior to preparation of the unit for actual use of the contents thereof, Thus, the purchaser may originally unscrew the dispenser from the container and remove the sealing disc, and from thenceforth dispense the contents of the container as needed in the manner described hereinabove.

It will be understood that only a limited number of forms of the invention have been shown and described in detail; but it .wi1l be apparent to those skilled in the art that theinvention is not so limited but that various changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claim,

I claim: In combination, a liquid dentifrice container having a cylindrical outlet neck portion externalconduit 36 will be at the bakck atthe brush mem ber and therefore less liable to accidentallyconduct liquid dentifrice towards the exterior ofthe dispenser handle portion. Thus, the device is o substantially leak-proof character.

It will be understood 'that-theinvention provides an improved combination device f or storing and dispensing liquid-dentifrices; and for protecting the unit against contamination between uses. Also it will be understood that when the combination unit is provided with a cover member as illustrated at 32 (Fig; 4) it-is particularly adapted to be transported and displayed for mer chandising purposes as a compact dirt-proof package of mechanically simple construction and pleasing external design. When thedispenser is tightly screwed upon the container Ill the air conduit is thereby automaticallyshut off and thus the unitmaybe handled and transported as in connection with normal transportation and merchandising handling without fear of leakage of the dentifrice from the unit; However, if preferred; a'simple paper' disc or the-like may be originally insertedbetweenthe outer end-of the container bottle neck and the inner'end of the dispenser socket portion so as to positively seal ly threaded, and a dentifrice dispensing tooth brush comprising a hollowed shaft portion having a discharge vent and tooth brushing bristles extending from one end thereof and an enlarged cylindrical collar portion at theother .end thereof adapted to ibe 'screwthreaded upon said container neck *portion in fluid sealed connection relation, said collar portion having an atmosphere vent opening extendingtherethrough from a position at a side exterior portion thereof into covering registry with an end portion of said container neck when saidbrush member is screwed tightly upon said container, whereby when said brush member is tightly screwed upon said container member said atmosphere vent is closed to prevent unintended passage of dentifrice through said'toothv brush hollowed shaft portion and whereby when said tooth brushxis partially unscrewed relative to said container said atmosphere vent is uncovered and may be manually selectively covered and uncovered at the exterior end thereof by the user for selectively controlling the flow of dentifrice through said- 

